Electric Vehicle Software Development: All You Need To Know 2024

Electric vehicles are getting immense popularity in the market as an environmentally friendly and efficient alternative to diesel or fuel automobiles. The broad definition comprises vehicles altogether or partly powered by an electric motor. In addition, batteries are only needed to develop electric vehicles. Digital advancements have brought about the development of what’s known as a “software-defined vehicle,” meaning the functionality of a vehicle is mostly determined by the operating system it is running and the software installed on it.

The market for EV software development has seen amazing growth and it will continue in the near future. According to a research report, the estimated value of the worldwide automotive electronics and software market in 2030 is $462 billion. Software is the controlling factor in all aspects of EVs and is crucial to their operation. The right application is vital to building secure and long-lasting EVs.

In this blog, we’ll discuss everything about electric vehicle software development.

Understanding Electric Vehicle Software Development

Electric vehicle software acts like applications that help connect you to the world around you, improve work processes and discover emerging technologies. But unlike smartphone applications, electric vehicle software programs were made specifically for your car – so you have greater control and enhanced features of your ride with this program in place. Electric cars have quickly gained in popularity due to their reduced emissions as well as lessen negative environmental impact.

As the electric vehicle market expands, so has the demand for quality software solutions dedicated to electric vehicles (EVs) will increase. According to research conducted on USA market sales projections for 2030, EV sales will represent 25% to 30%, meaning more vehicle owners may encounter such vehicles on public roadways.

Electric vehicle software is responsible for overseeing all the essential systems found within an EV, such as its motor, battery and charge system. Furthermore, this software should ensure safe and smooth operations resulting in an enjoyable journey experience for its driver.

Types Of Electric Vehicle Software

In this part, we’ll look at the diverse types of electric vehicle software.

Digital Cockpit Systems

Electric vehicles are becoming more advanced and provide motorists with digital driving experiences. Digital cockpits make this possible. They make it simpler for users to track the most important parameters, like the speed of their bikes, battery condition, and navigation. Digital cockpits also include hand-free control of media and navigation.

Self-Driving Vehicle Software

While self-driving vehicles are far from becoming daily, businesses are investing in this technology. They combine cameras, sensors, AI, and other essential technologies to give drivers a seamless experience. However, using such software poses a number of challenges, such as human safety and conformity.

Mobility Solutions And Connectivity Apps

The EV software development process can offer users a connected experience. Connectivity and mobility apps will bring various tools and applications. It allows drivers to connect their vehicle remotely via smartphones. Smartphones can lock and unlock doors, track traffic status in real-time, locate close charging points, and more. Apps and solutions like these offer access and convenience to people who use them.

Vehicle Control And Management Systems

This program manages core tasks and performance. Its functions can manage the motor and regulate power distribution among the motor, battery, and other devices. The choice of vehicle operating mode is by far the primary characteristic of this program.

EV Charging Management Software

In the age of electric vehicles, cyclists also require charging management apps or software to monitor the health of their batteries. EV charge management software gives various options for EV charging, such as setting up charging times, accepting payment, and so on.

Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS)

ADAS is now a sought-after technology in electric and conventional cars. The software has adaptive cruise control, which adjusts the car’s speed in a controlled manner. 

Key Features Of Electric Vehicle Software Development

Mobile and software applications feature functions that let users accomplish various jobs and gain insights about the state of health of electric automobiles. Monitoring the health of the car’s batteries or locating the closest charging station is an individual feature of the application.

Onboard Navigation

Glancing at your phone’s notification and navigation apps while driving is dangerous. To address this concern, it is recommended that the speedometers or dashboards on EVs now be used with a robust application linked to your mobile device. This allows users to monitor notifications, call alerts, and navigation, and it is easy to do so without looking away from the road.

Locating Charging Stations

It is among the primary options to select when creating EV software solutions. This program allows vehicle owners to charge their vehicles conveniently. Additionally, the feature informs car owners regarding the charging station’s ability to charge fast.

Booking Charging Station

If a person plans to travel an extensive distance and needs the vehicle charged within a specific time frame, scheduling charging stations can be ideal. With this option, users can reserve the station for the desired duration. This helps ensure the vehicle is paid at the correct date and time.

Range And Charge Prediction

The function should provide necessary information regarding how long the battery lasts and the distance you can reach with the battery remaining. Include the address to the software built into your dashboard to verify if you have enough power to get there. 

Anti-Theft Features

The program should have geo-location, geo-fencing, and lock/unlock functions that can be handled further through the mobile app. This will increase the electric vehicle’s security in case of theft and malware.

Charging Station Details

This function can provide users with specific information about switching stations, operating times, services, and more. It’s an excellent way for drivers to determine when and how they will charge their electric vehicle’s battery and plan their schedule according to their needs.

Geofencing

This function ensures maximum security and safety of electric vehicles as they aren’t moving into or out of restricted zones. The first step is for the electric vehicle owner to switch off the geofencing feature after parking within the location. 

When the car has been removed from that location, its owner is responsible for it. In the same way, if you find any place your vehicle should not be allowed to go, you can exclude that section from only your app. The EV software development service ensures that your car remains under your control.

The SOS button

The users can use the SOS button to signal emergencies such as battery discharge or tire explosions. The application can use the button to send an email or SMS directly to authorities and emergency contacts and share the exact locations.

AI Chatbots

It is among the most valuable features of electric vehicles that give all-hours support for users. It doesn’t matter if it’s a question or feedback. Prompt responses will be given to the person as soon as they send an inquiry.

Performance Analytics

The name implies that it lets owners get an immediate and comprehensive view of their entire fleet. For example, battery health, the distance traveled over time, power consumption, or even maintenance alerts are all accessible on one dashboard.

Electric Vehicle Software Development Process

The development of electric vehicle software requires creating software capable of controlling and managing different aspects of electric vehicles’ operations. The EV software development process has the following steps:

Discover And Ideation

The first step of the development process is to discover the idea. Both the customer and the development team must be aware of the kind of software they would like to build, specifically in the case of an electric vehicle program. This is the time to define an initial set of Key performance indicators that help ensure that the program is moving in the right direction at the right time.

UI/UX Design

The next step is the design phase, during which the application’s user interface is created. Our UI/UX designers create an intuitive user interface so that users can seamlessly use all the functions and features. Visual designs and animations for the app will be developed during this phase. After this phase, the final prototype, which demonstrates the full functionality and appearance, is presented to the user. The prototype allows the team to collect comments from the client.

Development

It is among the primary phases of software development. This is where the team responsible for app development creates the front-end and back-end of the application. This stage helps integrate all of the functions and features that users could enjoy. Furthermore, tasks such as API integration, integration with third-party payment gateways, and so on will be handled at this point.

Quality Analysis

When you use our EV software development solutions, we ensure that the program doesn’t contain the slightest error or bug after it’s launched onto the platform. Our quality analysts conduct several tests to ensure the software’s functions meet requirements. Additionally, various tests are conducted to ensure that the app is running at a high speed and to provide a more enjoyable experience for the user.

Deployment

It is the official final part of the project. The app for electric vehicles will be released to the platforms (Google Play Store and Apple App Store). The company that developed the app ensures the deployment process is in line with the respective platforms’ compliance requirements.

Maintenance and Support

When the software or app is handed over to the user, we provide regular maintenance and assistance. This helps to ensure that the software is running without issues. Support and maintenance also offer all the required updates and services to remove bugs for users.

Cost To Develop EV Software

The cost of the development of software for electric vehicles is contingent upon a variety of variables. Although an app for electric vehicles can be built for only around a thousand dollars, it is possible to increase the price quickly by making the application much more sophisticated and loaded with the latest features. 

The cost of EV charging software development generally starts at around $30,000. Still, it can be pushed to any amount, depending on the needs and needs. Here are the most important factors affecting the cost of developing EV software.

Project Complexity

The project’s complexity is the primary factor affecting the total development costs of electronic vehicle applications. Incorporating advanced technology in the process, such as metaverse AR/VR, artificial intelligence, machine Learning, and so on, can increase the development cost.

Design

A user-friendly and engaging user interface design is beneficial to improve users’ experience and expand the number of users who use the app. However, an experienced UI/UX designer must do this, which will add costs. The design stage involves different EV software development services. It depends on clients’ preferences, such as whether they prefer a conventional layout or want something new to their venture.

App Platform

The cost of creating apps to run on Android devices differs from making an application designed for iOS devices. Similarly, if you wish to develop an Android application or software that works on both operating systems, you must pay an additional charge.

Timeline Of The Project

The majority of the application developers charge on an hourly basis. The longer the duration of your project, the more expensive it is. Therefore, the timeframe of your development project can be significant in determining the cost of EV software development.

Location Of The Development Team

The geographical location of the EV software development business could drastically alter the price associated with EV Software development. Hiring developers from countries such as Australia, the USA, the UK, and Europe is more expensive than hiring employees from Asian nations. Thus, you should select your team with care.

Maintenance And Support

Electric vehicles and app software require regular maintenance to continue running effectively. If you would like assistance and maintenance from your team of app developers, you’ll need to pay them to do the same, which could be incorporated into the current application development costs.

Key Challenges Of EV Software Development

Yet, success for automobile manufacturers in the expanding EV market requires overcoming issues of creating software to support electric vehicles. What are those issues? These are the most important ones and the best ways software developers can overcome the challenges they face:

Choose Best Architecture For Your System

Architectural issues are common within EV software development since ECU developers have to deal with integration and complexity. Furthermore, Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL) accreditation is usually needed to prove the design is safe. Numerous developers use the “combo-box” architecture, where EV functions can be combined to form one ECU. Combining different functions—like the OBC and the DC/DC converter—means only an air conditioning and control system. This reduces the vehicle’s complexity, weight, and expenses. 

 Securing cybersecurity

Connectivity to the internet is necessary and a scourge for EVs because it allows for cyber-attacks. Connecting to EV infrastructures like charging stations or EV power equipment using USB or WiFi can make EVs susceptible to malware and DDoS attacks. It can expose personal information like payment details in danger. The ransomware threat may result in a hacker attacking an EV’s battery pack. In addition, it can make the grid system vulnerable to attack.

EV software development services company can reduce the risk by taking specific precautions and constructing ECUs with the latest security functions. A firewall, for instance, could be utilized to secure the car network. Transportation-layer security (TLS) safeguards data transiting between the charging station and the network. 

 Accepting Changing Protocols

As EV technology develops, emerging protocols that connect to charging stations differ based on the charger’s manufacturer, geographical locations, and many other aspects. ECUs require a communications stack to guarantee compatibility between every component of an electric vehicle to ensure that drivers are moving.

Making Sure Drivers Are Secure In All Circumstances

Safety rules for EVs have become more strict every day. This is because drivers could be in danger if EVs are not designed with proper safety measures. For example, BMS, the system for managing batteries, ensures that the vehicle’s battery is in top condition and should fix the issues or quickly identify the malfunctioning cells of the battery. 

For this reason, the fail-safe function is an essential feature. Power inverters must also comply with rigorous safety specifications for their functional performance, and ASIL certification is necessary for these devices.

Conclusion

Due to the increasing demand for electric vehicles, technological advancements, and software for electric vehicles, the process of developing software is becoming more complicated than ever. The EV software market is constantly witnessing the introduction of innovative trends, such as AI in machine learning and digital cockpits, improving driving security and quality.It’s no secret that electric cars are gaining ground in the gasoline/diesel automotive sector. The full power of electric vehicles can only be realized using the appropriate applications and software. If this is the case, creating software for electric cars could be an excellent idea for businesses that could increase their profits. For this reason, you must work with a reliable electric vehicle software development firm to create an application capable of scaling, advanced, and highly efficient.